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Column-free Truss Design Speeds On-site Construction Time
The ER Post™ Structural System is designed to provide complete column-free interior space on alternate floors. |
The Spancrete Group, headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has developed a new precast truss building system for multi-use commercial developments. While a traditional building system requires support columns and beams on every floor, the ER Post™ Structural System is designed to enable alternate floors to remain column-free. According to the manufacturer, the precast trusses can span up to 75 feet and provides rapid, all-weather erection and significant cost savings due to efficient framing and fewer pieces. Because of the unlimited floor layout possibilities, the new truss system is intended for use in office and commercial space, multi-family and university housing and hotels. While the building is going up, trades can come in for finishing details even in varied weather conditions since the floors are enclosed and then heated, resulting in increased construction flexibility. The system is also said to be compatible with all exterior cladding options, and is already being used in two large Midwest developments in Milwaukee and Chicago.
For more information
www.spancrete.com
Artful Wind
The British start-up Quietrevolution developed a vertical axis wind turbine with operational wind speeds up to 36 mph. The turbine is not only more aesthetic but also better at gathering wind near and around buildings. |
Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the QR5! This helix-shaped wind turbine is not only pleasing to the eye, it can generate around 9,400 kWh per year in a site with an average wind of 13 mph. This is equivalent to the electric needs of a 20-man office or the electricity demand of about five low-energy houses.
Developed by British firm, Quietrevolution, the QR5 stands 46.5 feet high by 10 feet in diameter and consists of a mast and rotor. The blades and connection arms are made of carbon fibre and epoxy resin, optimized for strength and weight. The rotor is designed with a high-tensile wire running through all its component parts to minimize the risk of broken parts being flung from the structure. In case of high-wind events or accidental damage, the turbine also has integrated electronic control mechanisms that constantly monitor the speed and can stop it or switch it off if necessary. The unique shape of the turbine allows it to operate almost silently while pumping out 800 kilowatt-hours a month in 13-mph winds. According to QR modeling, the turbine produces 20 to 40 percent more energy than a traditional turbine of similar size. In addition, vertical axis design is said to have much lighter loads than its horizontal counterpart.
Units have been installed on the ground in commercial development projects around London with 70 to 80 planned units in the coming year. Cost with installation is approximately $80,000, with an estimated design life of 25 years and payback period of 18. Quietrevolution is targeting high-volume urban commercial and civic projects with the goal of reducing the price.
For more information
www.quietrevolution.co.uk
The Agurban Top 10 Trends in 2008
According to Boomtown author and NAIOP member Jack Schultz, here are the trends that will grow in importance in 2008 and beyond, identified from his travels to over 300 towns in the U.S.
- Millennials – It is generally reported that this generation was born between 1980 and 2000, about the same size as the Baby Boomers but dwarfs Gen-X’ers, born between 1961 and 1980. They are sociable, optimistic, talented, well-educated, collaborative, open-minded and achievement-oriented. They are arriving in the workplace with higher expectations than any generation before them and are going to be the most entrepreneurial in the history of the U.S. I’m finding incredible examples of what these young people are already doing. You need to be recruiting and retaining the Millennials.
- Retirement As Strategy – The oldest Baby Boomer turned 60 in 2006. Several communities are actively recruiting young retirees to them. These young retirees aren’t going to be passive, they are going to be starting new businesses, volunteering and transforming the communities that are able to attract them.
- Education – This isn’t Kansas, Toto! The jobs of the 21st Century are increasingly going to go to the well educated. Towns that have world-class primary and secondary schools are going to be the winners. Entrepreneurial education is going to increasingly be pushed down to Kindergarten. Community colleges will be the key to the constant retraining of the work force due to the rapid changes taking place in our economy.
- Promises – It started with Kalamazoo, Mich. which promised to pay the college education for anyone who attended its grade and high schools. Newton, IA, and El Dorado, Ariz. have followed suit. Several others are looking to follow. A huge driver of where the GenX’ers and Millennials are going to decide to raise their families. Employers will follow.
- Water, Water, Water – You can’t have enough of it. Boomers are going to want to live on it, the west is starting to fight over it and those that have control of it will rule.
- New Urbanization – Downtowns are hot! Boomers and young professionals don’t want to drive for everything. The old walkable neighborhood is back.
- Enviropreneurs – Green is increasingly growing in importance. Many local entrepreneurs are investing everything to get in on the front edge of this trend.
- Niche Ag – Farmers are increasingly diversifying from a dependence upon traditional commodity crops to new niche products. Local food production is also driving this trend, as is the growing interest in all things organic.
- Premiumization – It started with coffee but has been embraced in many other products like honey, chocolate, vodka, cheese, breweries and others.
- Birds Beating Birdies – The fastest growing spectator sport in the U.S. is bird watching. Geo-caching, biking, hiking and extreme water sports are also growing in importance. Golf will still be important for some, but won’t be as dominant as in the ‘90s.
For more information
The Boomtown Institute:
www.boomtowninstitute.com
Boomtown USA, the 7 1/2 Keys to Big Success in Small Towns:
www.naiop.org/bookstore
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